Varun Dhawan

Biography

Varun Dhawan (Hindi pronunciation: [ʋəɾʊɳ d̪ʱəʋən]; born 24 April 1987) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. One of India's highest-paid actors, he has been featured in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2014. He has starred in 11 consecutive box-office successes between 2012 and 2018.

The son of film director David Dhawan, he graduated in business studies from Nottingham Trent University. He began his career as an assistant director to Karan Johar in My Name Is Khan (2010), and subsequently made his acting debut in 2012 with Johar's teen drama Student of the Year.

He rose to prominence with leading roles in the romantic comedies Main Tera Hero (2014), Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania (2014), and Badrinath Ki Dulhania (2017); the action comedies Dilwale (2015), Dishoom (2016), and Judwaa 2 (2017); the dance film ABCD 2 (2015); and the drama Sui Dhaaga (2018).

Dhawan also received praise for playing against type as an avenger in the thriller Badlapur (2015) and an aimless man coping with loss in the drama October (2018). Following three critical and commercial failures, he starred in Jugjugg Jeeyo and Bhediya (both 2022).

Dhawan was born on 24 April 1987 to David Dhawan, a film director, and Karuna Dhawan. His family is Punjabi Hindu. His elder brother, Rohit, is a film director known for his debut venture Desi Boyz, while his uncle, Anil, is an actor.

He completed his HSC education at the H.R. College of Commerce and Economics. He has a degree in business studies from Nottingham Trent University, United Kingdom. Prior to his acting career, he worked as an assistant director to Karan Johar on the film My Name Is Khan (2010).

Dhawan has appeared in Forbes India's Celebrity 100 list since 2014, peaking at the 15th position in 2018,] when the magazine estimated his annual income to be ₹495.8 million (US$6.2 million) and listed him as one of the highest-paid celebrities in the country.

In the same year, the Indian edition of GQ featured him among the nation's 50 most influential young people and labeled him as the "most bankable star of his generation".

On 24 January 2021, Dhawan married his long-time girlfriend, fashion designer Natasha Dalal